Michael NaylorAge: 45 Hometown: Providence, R.I.Connection to your teammate: Friends/DetectivesCurrent Occupation: Undercover Detective Pet peeve about your teammate: He loves everyoneFavorite hobbies:Working out, running and lifting weightsAchievements: Numerous awards in the field of narcotics enforcement Lifelong to do list: Raise my children to be honorable, productive, loving and happy people. I would also like to write a bookIf I could switch places with someone: Nobody, I am very happy with my lifeRole Model/Hero: A father who stays with his family and teaches their kids to be happy, well accomplished peopleWhat are you passionate about: Coaching Little League, New England Patriot football and Red Sox baseballWhat would you do if you won the million dollars: Work less, spend more time with family and put my kids through collegePeople would be surprised to learn: That I will enjoy the Race whether I win or loseFavorite place you have ever visited: Southern California Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: NoneWhat did you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks): Completing the Race no matter what place we come in

Louie StravatoAge: 47Hometown: Providence, R.I.Connection to your teammate: Friends/DetectivesCurrent Occupation: Undercover Detective Pet peeve about your teammate: He's a control freakFavorite hobbies: Competing in power lifting competitions and Mixed Martial Arts Achievements: The birth of my two sons, numerous awards for being a police officer and setting records as a power lifterLifelong to do list: To retire healthy, comfortable, and preferably wealthyIf I could switch places with someone: My dadRole Model/Hero: My Dad. He has accomplished so much in life and is loved by his family, friends and peers. Though he lives in a lot of physical pain, he's always there to do whatever he can regardless of his condition What are you passionate about? Life and living it to the fullest and teaching my children to do the sameWhat would you do if you won the million dollars? I would live comfortably and do a lot of travelingPeople would be surprised to learn: My life is pretty much an open book, so I'm not sure I could surprise anybodyFavorite place you have ever visited: Germany and SingaporeBiggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Keeping up with each otherWhat do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks)? To show my children that anything is possible as long as you put your heart and soul into it

Logged

RFF's Golden Rule:Have RESPECT for each other, regardless of opinion. This of course includes no flaming/insulting other users and/or their posts.

The friendship of the other Rhode Island team developed from work. Stravato and Naylor are both drug-enforcement detectives. Stravato works in Providence; Naylor in Newport. And how they came to be on the show is revealing of Rhode Islanders’ apparent predisposition for reality TV stardom.

Stravato and Naylor were invited. Actually, Stravato was invited and then invited Naylor to join him.

Eighteen months later a casting representative from “The Amazing Race” who saw Stravato’s “Survivor” audition tape e-mailed him, inviting him to audition and to pick a team partner.“We still had to go through the whole process,” Stravato says.

So Stravato and Naylor filled out an application and sent in an audition tape. Then, last summer, they were invited to California for a one-week audition.

“It was physical and psychological testing,” Naylor says.

“It was intense,” Stravato says.

Other people auditioning, Naylor noticed, were plotting about how to behave to impress the show’s producers.

“We just went on and were ourselves,” Naylor says. “And it worked.”

Personality is what prevails. That’s Stravato’s theory.

“Mike and I are characters. We stuck out. They saw our video. They saw we were crazy. It’s good TV.”

Although Stravato and Naylor are fitness fanatics, they intensified their workouts to prepare for the show, adding running and rock climbing to their regular gym regimen. And they also analyzed the show, which involves overcoming physical and logistical obstacles in a race around the world.

“I watched shows with my son and I’d sit there screaming at these people, ‘These guys are idiots! Why did they do that?’ ” Naylor says. “I watched every episode. I studied them like they were homework assignments.”

To personality add perseverance. This is apparently what the show looks for in contestants. But the show doesn’t say that.

“They’re chosen because they’re just a real cross section of America,” says Phil Keoghan, the show’s host, on its Web site.

You all are going to start seeing a stream of media related articles about Louie, so I wanted to give you an update here.

This is what is known so far:

Three Providence RI police officers were arrested 3/5 after a sting operation. The three officers were accused of protecting a cocaine distribution ring and setting up drug deals.

Louie was NOT among those arrested. Apparently however, his name was brought up by someone during the investigation, and he was one of four officers assigned to desk duty pending further investigation. It is not known at this time why Louie has been placed on desk duty other than that his name was mentioned.

So some guidelines here for everyone to remember as this is discussed.

Louie is presumed innocent.

There will be no "bashing" of Louie or Michael in this forum.

Factual, legitimate news related to the racers can, as always, be discussed.

Until this matter can be resolved, I hope Louie and his family can take comfort in the love and support of the TAR community.

Logged

RFF's Golden Rule:Have RESPECT for each other, regardless of opinion. This of course includes no flaming/insulting other users and/or their posts.

I want to make something very clear. ANYONE (with the exception of the moderator/Georgia Peach) that claims to have "inside information" or claims to have gotten information related to the investigation of "Operation Deception" - and/or Louie Stravato and/or Mick Naylor - is full of it. This is a HUGE case in Rhode Island and the LAST person to give inside information to TAR or the news would be Mike or Louie - or anyone else.

IF you have any knowledge of how these things work - how devastated Louie & Mike are - as well as their co-workers - you wouldn't be making claims to having knowledge - or getting inside knowledge.

Was a co-worker of Louie's involved in a drug bust? Yes. Does that make Louie any less upstanding or corrupt? No. Let the race be the race, let the investigation continue.

Louis D. Stravato, a Rhode Island Police Officer Who Appears on the Current Season of The Amazing Race, Has Been Relegated To Desk Duty After a Drug Investigation

A report from TMZ states that Louis Stravato, a Rhode Island police officer competing on the latest season of "The Amazing Race," has been put on desk duty due to an internal investigation regarding a drug ring run by police officers.

According to Rhode Island Police, Louie Stravato's name "came up" in an investigation into a cocaine ring run by cops. Three officers were arrested in connection with the Rhode Island cop drug ring. Stravato was not among those arrested. He was, however, one of four officers relegated to desk duty after the investigation.

Who is Louie Stravato?

Louis Stravato is a Providence police officer who is competing on The Amazing Race along with Michael Naylor, a detective in Newport, RI. Both men work in drug enforcement.

In his spare time, Louie Stravato competes in power lifting competitions and mixed martial arts. Stravato has described himself as a huge reality TV fan. He had auditioned to be a contestant on Survivor, which led to his participation in The Amazing Race. According to the Louie Bravato Bio on the CBS website, he has won "numerous awards for being a police officer."

Louie Stravato and Michael Naylor won the latest stage of the Amazing Race, which aired Sunday, March 7. Another Rhode Island pair, Dan and Jordan Pious, are also competing in the Amazing Race this season.